You'll never look at a petrol again
. (apart from maybe the duratec GTS beastie..)
I dont know what to do with cars at the moment...
I really like the mini, its great fun to drive, mentally quick for a hot hatch and the supercharger whine is rather addictive and its got more toys
than you can shake a stick at. The downsides are that its got no rear leg room so its really a 2 seater, its got no boot, isnt very economical
(~35mpg) and is £220/year to tax and £180/corner for tyres, which it munches through. Its still worth a fair bit of money as they depreciate really
slowly, I was offered £6.5k trade in for it yesterday (book value for a private sale is pushing £8k!)
A guy at work is selling his very low mileage (30k) Golf GT Tdi (130bhp) golf for £4.5k. More economical, cheaper to tax, insure etc. But I do find
them a bit boring and there a millions fo them about. Plus although its the top model, the lack of toys is a bit annoying. Still quick though...
BUT I really like the Seat Leon Cupra (or FR) Tdi (150bhp). Its identical to the golf inside, but I think they look a lot better from the outside. The
problem is I cant find a low milage one (<50k preferably) for sensible money (I dont want to pay more than what the mini is worth) I went to look
at a bright yellow one yesterday, but it was a bit of a rubbish one, however its just reminded me how much I like them!
So what should I do? Keep the mini? Buy the golf and pocket £2k toward the house fund? Or wait for a Leon to become available?
David
What about a Fiat Stilo Abarth? barking mad car, just don't buy the automatic version!
its a no brainer - skoda fabia VRS. Lots of nice toys, plenty of room, cheapish to run and goes like the clappers.
You'll never look at a petrol again .
(apart from maybe the duratec GTS beastie..)
quote:
Originally posted by coozer
What about a Fiat Stilo Abarth? barking mad car, just don't buy the automatic version!
The Leon is a far better looking car then the Golf IMHO and far better value for money too.
The only downside is the Leon's appeal to the younger, heavier footed, male driver means you're less likely to find a decent used one over
the equivalent Golf model - I know I ragged the guts out of my Cupra TDI for the 4 years I had it. That said it took everything in it's stride
and still drove very well for a 100k mile car.
On balance I'd hold out for a decent Leon myself and bank some cash towards a house deposit. Golf's (even the nice ones) just blend into
the background too much for me.
[Edited on 6/7/09 by nick205]
I would either keep the mini, or hold out for a Leon.
Leon for me.
I have a Seat Leon, 2.0 TDi with the BTCC bodykit. It's done 46,000 miles now and never missed a beat.
£150 a service at the local indy, every 10k miles.
£120 a tyre (but they are 18"
Cheap (ish) tax.
40mpg
Since buying the Leon I've spent more money / time in or on the kit car. It's that reliable / predicatable and cheap that I have more
disposable at the end of each month. That means more on toys! (I've got a house! )
Cheers
Mike
Remeber the 1.9 TDI units are eassily good for 150k my 110 ver got to 214k ( daily abuse ).
just bough another with low 110k if you are looking arround the 75k mark check for when it cambelt is due as that will be an expensive service ( but
should not be scrimped on )
regards Agriv8
quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
quote:
Originally posted by coozer
What about a Fiat Stilo Abarth? barking mad car, just don't buy the automatic version!
Only one problem, its Italian. I just cant bring myself to buy anything french or italian I am afraid
I am all for a Tdi (hence the golf and seat) only I dont know what to do. Dont much like the look of the Skoda, but nothing against them as they are a Golf at the end of the day...
quote:
Originally posted by coozer
no electronics...no dealers, no spare parts, no warranty......
My mate just got a Renault Clio 182 for £3200, about 60K on the clock. So thats hatchback size, weighs less than a tonne and has 182bhp stock. He got 44mpg out driving in North Wales on the weekend.
quote:
Originally posted by deezee
My mate just got a Renault Clio 182 for £3200, about 60K on the clock. So thats hatchback size, weighs less than a tonne and has 182bhp stock. He got 44mpg out driving in North Wales on the weekend.
Dave,
Don't know what sort of money 1 series Beemers are down to, but got to be worth a look if the price is right. Not hugely practical in terms of
rear leg room or boot space, but much improved over the Mini I should imagine.
The 120d is around the 160/170 bhp mark and is very good on emissions (I looked from a co. car tax perspective). Will hold it's value well, and
should be easy to find a good one too.
Personally I'm really not a fan of the New Mini (but then I was never a fan of the old either come to that) so the Golf, Leon, 120d are all more
appealing to me
Buy the golf and use the 2 K leftover to have a NOS kit put on it
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Dave,
Don't know what sort of money 1 series Beemers are down to, but got to be worth a look if the price is right. Not hugely practical in terms of rear leg room or boot space, but much improved over the Mini I should imagine.
The 120d is around the 160/170 bhp mark and is very good on emissions (I looked from a co. car tax perspective). Will hold it's value well, and should be easy to find a good one too.
Personally I'm really not a fan of the New Mini (but then I was never a fan of the old either come to that) so the Golf, Leon, 120d are all more appealing to me
quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
Yeah and £220/ year tax
No French or Italian? Is it a reliability thing?
I'd like to know, because soon we hope Fiat will begin importing to Canada again. If it's something else, well, to each his own.
None of them.
Buy a mill to go with the lathe.
Paul G
quote:.
Originally posted by MikeRJ
quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
Yeah and £220/ year tax
Which is pretty irrelevant for the kind of money you are spending.
Far too many people seem to be buying brand new eco cars because they see the £35 per year tax, even though they have just spent a huge amount of money on a new car. Daft.
Are there special taxes on European parts in the UK? I found VW's very cheap (compared to what we would pay), and Audi et al really really expensive considering they're made a stone's throw from you.
Just keep the Mini...
Or if you really need a bigger car, buy an Octavia RS. The same as the Leon or the Golf, only cheaper. Huge boot, decent rear legroom and 200 bhp. I
have one and I like it...
Just make sure you don't buy the diesel one...
Don't discount french cars too quickly...
I love my diesel Megane. 50mpg when driving around town (ie sat in traffic!), goes up to 60s when on a longer run (unless you really try and lose your
license when the mpg really starts dropping).
Only problems seem to revolve around the fact that the engineering team at Renault appear to have had a fetish for removing the bumper so you have to
do it change the fuel filter, change the headlight bulbs etc etc etc.... Love the aircraft style handbrake though 
You don't actually say what brought this on but hint at a number of things.
- buy cheaper car and put difference to house - always a good move.
- lack of room in back and boot - looking for a bigger car?
- not economical? 35 mpg !! I can only dream of that, mine give 25 and 15 respectively 
You want something zippy yet economical, well they don't come together - for zippiness, you have the GTS.
I have not memorised parkers guide so have no idea if t he Golf is a good price, likewise have no idea what this leon thing is and how much.
To be honest 2 k is F.A as far as buying a house goes, it would cover solictor fees and that is just about it so we are not talking huge savings.
If the car is too small, then that would be reason to look at bigger.
Take a drive in the Golf and see how you get on.
Otherwise hold on to the Mini and wait for Leon to pop up or some other car.
Nothing wrong in blandness.
Still dont know what to do. The only decent leon i could find with under 50k miles on has just been sold. Evrything else is out of my budget.
Just had to shell out on 2 new tyres (£350) and an MOT for the Mini. Do wonder if I would be better off keeping it...